Leucadendron plant named &#39;WILD THING&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Leucadendron salignum  x  laureolum cultivar  named ‘WILD THING’ is disclosed, characterized by yellow-green foliage. The new cultivar is a  Leucadendron, salignum  x  laureolum  typically suited for ornamental container and garden use.

Latin name of the genus and species: Leucadendron salignum x laureolum.

Variety denomination: ‘WILD THING’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety originated as a chance discover by the inventor, LuenMiller. The variety was discovered as a naturally occurring branchmutation on a single plant of Leucadendron salignum x laureolum ‘Ebony’U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,258. The new variety was discovered during Juneof 2011 at a homeowner garden in Los Gatos, Calif.

After selecting and isolating the new cultivar, asexual reproduction ofthe new cultivar ‘WILD THING’ was first performed at a commercialnursery in Royal Oaks, Calif. in July of 2013. Softwood vegetativeterminal cuttings were used for propagation. The inventor continuedconfidential, controlled evaluation and propagation of ‘WILD THING’, toestablish a stable clone, with the most variegated foliage coloration.‘WILD THING’ has since produced three generations and has shown that theunique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.Typical asexual reproduction of the new variety is by softwoodvegetative cuttings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘WILD THING’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘WILD THING.’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘WILD THING’ as a new and distinct Leucadendroncultivar:

-   -   1. Light green foliage with maroon center streaking.    -   2. Floral bracts are bright yellow green with strong        orange-salmon flushing and dark greyed-purple central streaking.    -   3. Slower growth, relatively dense and compact habit.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘WILD THING’ are similar to the parent inmost horticultural characteristics. However, ‘WILD THING’ differs inproducing foliage distinctively yellow-green with a maroon centerstreaking. Foliage of ‘Ebony’ is solid dark maroon. Floral Bracts of thenew variety are a much brighter, vibrant color.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘WILD THING’ can be compared to thewell-known commercial variety Leucadendron ‘Jester’, unpatented. Plantsof ‘WILD THING’ are similar to plants of ‘Jester’ in some horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of ‘WILD THING’ differ in thefollowing:

-   -   1. Plants of the new variety have darker foliage color,        yellow-green with a maroon center, foliage of Jester is yellow        with a green center.    -   2. Floral bract color of the new variety is deeper, more intense        than floral bract color of ‘Jester’.    -   3. The new variety is faster growing than ‘Jester’.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘WILD THING’ can be compared to Leucadendron‘Safari Sunset’, unpatented. The new variety is similar in somehorticultural characteristics. However, the plants of ‘WILD THING’differ in the following:

-   -   1. Foliage of ‘Safari Sunset’ is solid green, the new variety        has variegated foliage.    -   2. Flowering bract color of the new variety is variegated        yellow-green, greyed-purple with an orange flush. Flowering        bract color of ‘Safari Sunset’ is solid red.    -   3. Plants of the new variety are more compact than plants of        ‘Safari Sunset’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph was taken using conventional techniques andalthough colors may appear different from actual colors due to lightreflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographictechniques. The accompanying photograph illustrates in full colorfoliage, floral bract and a forming cone of the new variety. Age of theplant photographed is approximately 2 years.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to the R.H.S.Colour Chart, 2007, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used. The following observations and measurementsdescribe ‘WILD THING’ plants grown at a commercial nursery in RoyalOaks, Calif., under bright, unshaded conditions. Average daytemperatures were approximately 8° C. to 26° C. and the average nighttemperature was approximately 3° C. to 18° C. No artificial light,photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments were given to theplants. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typicalplant types.

-   Botanical classification: Leucadendron salignum x laurolum ‘WILD    THING’.-   Age of the plant described: Approximately 2 years.-   Container size of the plant described: 1 gallon commercial    container.-   Propagation:    -   -   Propagation method.—Terminal cuttings, hardwood or            semi-softwood.        -   Time to develop roots suitable for transplanting.—About 6 to            8 weeks at an average temperature around 25° C.        -   Root description.—Woody, not well branched, colored near            Brown N199A and Grey-Brown 199A and 199B. Typically shallow            rooted.-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—Upright shrub.        -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 15 months.        -   In a container or in the ground.—1 gallon container.        -   Height.—47 cm.        -   Plant spread.—36 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Approximately 1 year to reach 30 cm in height.        -   Branching characteristics.—An un-pinched plant has a central            strong stem, with strong lateral branches occurring 4 or 5            at a single node. Lateral branch angle of attachment is            highly variable, 15 to 90° from the central stem.        -   Central stem description.—Length: Approximately 36 cm.            Diameter: About 2.2 cm at base, about 0.9 cm uppermost            section. Color: Base(older wood) near Greyed-Orange 177D.            Uppermost section near Greyed-Purple 187C. Texture: Entire            central stem glabrous, no scales, bark or lenticels            observed. Strength: Very strong and flexible.        -   Lateral branches.—Length of Primary Lateral Branches:            Approximately 15 cm on average. Diameter of Lateral            Branches: Approximately 0.5 to 0.8 cm. Approximate Quantity            of Lateral Branches: 12 to 15. Branching Arrangement:            Whorled. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Lower section near            Greyed-Puprle 187C, upper section near Greyed-Purple N187C            flushed 186B.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Spiral. Quantity: Approximately 25 to 50,            per main branch, including sub-branches. Average Length: 6.0            to 7.5 cm. Average Width: Approximately 2.0 cm. Shape of            blade: Oblanceolate. Apex: Broadly acute or rounded. Base:            Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture of top surface: Glabrous.            Texture of bottom surface: Glabrous. Pubescence: None.            Aspect: Slight undulation or twist. Lower occurring leaves            are more twisted. Color: Young foliage upper side: Near RHS            Green 137C, thick streak or steaks in center near            Greyed-Purple N186A. Streaks occurs over approximately 50 to            75% of leaf blade. Very thin margin near Greyed-Purple 187C.            Young foliage under side: Near RHS Green 137C, thick streak            or steaks in center near Greyed-Purple N187A. Streaks occurs            over approximately 50% of leaf blade. Very thin margin near            Greyed-Purple 187C. Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS            Green 137C, thick streak or steaks in center near            Greyed-Purple N186A. Streaks occurs over approximately 30 to            50% of leaf blade. Very thin margin near Greyed-Purple 187C.            Mature foliage under side: Near RHS Green 137C, thick streak            or steaks in center near Greyed-Purple N187A. Streaks occurs            over approximately 50% of leaf blade. Very thin margin near            Greyed-Purple 187C. Venation: Type: Pinnate. Venation color            upper side: Indistinguishable from foliage coloration.            Venation color under side: Indistinguishable from foliage            coloration. Petiole: No present, sessile.-   Flower:    -   -   Natural flowering season.—Year round in temperate California            conditions.        -   Begins flowering after how many years/months.—About 1 year.        -   Inflorescence type and habit.—Female only flowers. Minute            flowers occurring in gently spiraling rows on conical            spikes. Flowers tubular structure of fused petals, outwardly            facing. Flower self-cleaning, persisting approximately 6            weeks on the spike.        -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—45, occurring in 9            rows.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: Approximately 1.7 cm. Height:            Approximately 2.0 cm.        -   Individual flowers.—Size: Diameter: Approximately 1.5 mm.            Length: Approximately 1 mm. Shape:        -   Petals.—Petal arrangement: Rotate. Size: Length: 1 mm.            Width: 1 mm. Margin: Entire. Apex: Rounded. Base: Fused.            Petal quantity: Indistinguishable, single, minute structure.            Texture: Glabrous.        -   Color.—Petals: When opening: Inner surface: Near RHS            Greyed-Purple N186A. Outer surface: Near RHS Greyed-Purple            N186A. Fully opened: Inner surface: Near RHS Greyed-Purple            N18&A. Outer surface: Near RHS Greyed-Purple N187A.        -   Bud.—Shape: Ovate. Length: Approximately 0.5 mm. Diameter:            Approximately 0.4 mm. Color: Near RHS Greyed-Purple N186A.        -   Basal bracts.—Arrangement: Overlapping whorls, very tightly            held. Shape: Half-circle. Length: Approximately 0.4 mm.            Width: Approximately 0.7 mm. Color: Near RHS Greyed-Purple            N186A. Appearance: Shiny, likely from pubescence. Texture:            Very minutely pubescent.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Involucral bracts.—.        -   Number.—Average range 10 to 12.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.6 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Broad deltate to quadrate.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Apex shape.—Truncate or occasionally acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Color.—Near RHS Brown 200B.        -   Floral bracts.—.        -   Description.—Leaf like, occurring just below inflorescence.            Quantity: Average range 5 to 6. Arrangement: Spiral. Average            Length: 6.0 to 7.5 cm. Average Width: Approximately 2.0 cm.            Shape of blade: Oblanceolate. Apex: Broadly acute or            rounded. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture of top            surface: Glabrous. Texture of bottom surface: Glabrous.            Pubescence: None. Aspect: Slight undulation or twist. Lower            occurring leaves are more twisted. Color: Upper surface:            Base color near RHS Yellow-Green 146D, heavily flushed Red            42C, thin margin near Red 53A, thicker part of margin            flushed Red 52C. Thick center streaks near Greyed-Purple            N186A and 187A. Under surface: Base color near RHS            Yellow-Green 146D, heavily flushed Orange 26B, thin margin            near Red 53A, thicker part of margin flushed Red 52C. Thick            center streaks near Greyed-Purple N186A and 187A.        -   Peduncle.—Beginning from the lowermost floral bract. Length:            Approximately 3 cm. Diameter: Approximately 0.5 cm. Texture:            Glabrous. Color: Lower section near Greyed-Purple 187C.-   Reproductive organs Minute flowers with compressed productive    organs. Reproductive organs not visible under a dissecting    microscope.-   Other characteristics:    -   -   Seeds and fruits.—No seeds/fruits observed.        -   Disease/pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor            susceptibility to the normal pests and diseases of            Leucadendron has been observed.        -   Temperature tolerance.—Tolerates low temperatures to            approximately −9° C. Good high temperature tolerance,            observed to at least 40° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Leucadendronsalignum x laureolum plant named ‘WILD THING’ as herein illustrated anddescribed.